Star Grant Program

Ed Foundation Awards 2026 Star Grants

The Education Foundation of Hudson recently awarded Star Grants for innovative classroom projects. The foundation awarded eight grants totaling $16,974.73 for projects involving educations in the Hudson School District, St. Patrick School, and Trinity Academy.

Foundation Board President John Kromer, and other board members, presented the awards during ceremonies at Hudson High School on April 30, 2026. Kromer told recipients that the foundation and community are proud of the educators' efforts to bring innovative ideas to the classrooms of local schools.

Grants 

• Novels for Summer School/Jumpstart Reading submitted by teacher Jenna Weiland representing Hudson elementary schools. The grant will be used by all summer school students in grades 3-5. It involves high-interest, age-appropriate novels for students in the summer program to encourage reading and comprehension. the foundation awarded $1,275.
• Fourth Grade Trade Books submitted by Assistant Director of Teaching and Learning Laura Mlynarczyk representing Hudson elementary schools. The grant will use texts that involve close reading, evidence-based writing regarding the theme of professionalism. The foundation awarded $1,500.
• Wireless Microphone System submitted by teacher Dan Weiland from Hudson High School. The grant will provide updated microphone equipment for the video studio in the school's technology and engineering department. The foundation awarded $3,880.
• Learning Through Play submitted by Lisa Plackner and Leah Wahlberg from Willow River Elementary School. The materials will be used at other elementary schools also. The grant involves play stations for kindergarten students that promotes problem-solving and communication skills. The foundation awarded $1,000.
• Growing Young Minds through Early Literacy submitted by Nicole Burlingame, Beth Juranke, and Julie Mattimiro from St. Patrick School. The grant involves a series of books designed to support academic, social and emotional growth for young readers. The foundation awarded $1,471.96.
• Library Glow-up submitted by Katie Stringer from St. Patrick School. The program is designed to improve accessibility and display of books in the school library. The improved display will be especially helpful to younger readers who cannot see the covers of books on current shelves. The foundation awarded $1,171.83. 
• Corrective Reading for SLD submitted by Heather Fey from St. Patrick School. For many years, St. Patrick School has had an agreement with the Willow River Elementary School to serve students with specific reading deficits (SLD). With Willow River Elementary School closing, that service will no longer be available. That responsibility will be transferred to St. Patrick reading specialist Heather Fey. The grant will fund the necessary materials, books, and teaching materials to work with SLD students at St. Patrick School. The foundation awarded $3,675.94.
• Reading Comprehension Resource Library submitted by Melissa Gruenes at Trinity Academy. The proposal involves improvements to the library including selected including selected picture books to support comprehension in the reading intervention program. The foundation awarded $3,000.

The foundation is funded by private donations, mostly coming from local and area businesses, individuals, and foundations.

Star Grants offer financial support for projects that would not typically be funded in the normal budgeting process. The foundation, founded in 1990, is a private organization established to strengthen community participation in all local schools and inspire both teachers and students. With the recent grants, the foundation has funded just over $2,205,000 in local education projects and awards since the organization's inception.

In addition to Kromer, current foundation board members are Lynn Krueger, Dr. Ron Bernth, Jodell Krause, Doug Stohlberg, and Scott Snyder. Steven Keller is the organization's volunteer executive director.